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When going on holidays to Spain we have always been told to be weary of the drinking water. I must say that I have not seen or read about the condition of the drinking water. Have pilgrims had any issues, would it be good practice to bring purifying tablets? Do you drink small amounts until your system gets used to it? Any advice please.
Hi @gagseymt , I deduce from other posts that you are from the UK and probably the North West. So, you probably avoid drinking local tap-water because of the high nitrate levels from agricultural run-off, particularly into Ennerdale; high levels of Cryptosporidium in Thirlmere and the long term pollution following the fire at Windscale in 1957 and the series of radiation leaks since. The sewage related phosphate contamination is probably less of a concern unless you swim, sail or fish in any of the lakes but it does increase production costs for United Utilities. though they still charge a hell of a lot less per litre than Lakeland Spring or Willow Water.
No intention to rough you upbut I wanted to illustrate that one man's water is another man's water. Too much (different) food, far too much cheap booze and poor personal hygiene created the great British myth of the '60's that French / Spanish / Foreign water wasn't safe to drink. Add in marketing campaigns from the water bottlers and we all end up buying water at a 1000% premium.
You are more likely to become unwell through dehydration on the Camino than from drinking from public water sources. And if you do elect to buy bottled water please dispose of the empty bottle in one of the frequently available recycling points.
Buen, hydrated, camino
Oh, my, please don't "purify" water. Tap water in most spanish cities (in most european cities that is!) is drinkable. Not only that - it's "live" water, whereas the water from "water-machines" (don't know how those are called...) is "dead", being stored for days, weeks or even months.When going on holidays to Spain we have always been told to be weary of the drinking water. I must say that I have not seen or read about the condition of the drinking water. Have pilgrims had any issues, would it be good practice to bring purifying tablets? Do you drink small amounts until your system gets used to it? Any advice please.
Afghanistan vs. Spain.................................The whole bit about locals being more tolerant of any bacteria in the local water source is a myth. I lived and worked in Afghanistan for five years. The only water we consumed was bottled water, and water in our camps from wells, but had been treated. We never consumed local water. It was not potable. The local Afghans we worked with consumed a lot of bottled water when in our camps. We brought up to them our belief that they were able to drink their local water and not get sick. They quickly told us that they get sick all the time from their local water, as do their children especially.
You don't develop any real tolerance to drinking bacteria filled water. They just dealt with it. Getting sick was just part of life. I guess that's why they would have so many children in their family units.
Certainly Spain is much more modern, progressive and overall safer that Afghanistan, but non-potable water filled with bacteria is non-potable water filled with bacteria no matter where you are. I was addressing any belief that locals would not get sick off of contaminated water. That they can drink from the fountains (or other local water sources), but foreign peregrinos can't.Afghanistan vs. Spain.................................
???
Well, I guess it's not about the locals rather pilgs from other countries (overseas also or especially), which might not "liked" it. I haven't heard any complaints from pigrims drinking "aqua potable" so far. And I always drink a tap water through out EU (even if it tastes awful, which sometimes does, - remember: magnesium tablets etc.), same in Spain. Although I'm kind of spoiled with water coming from the Alpine creeks and so, I cherish live water over dead one. Enjoy, whatever you chooseCertainly Spain is much more modern, progressive and overall safer that Afghanistan, but non-potable water filled with bacteria is non-potable water filled with bacteria no matter where you are. I was addressing any belief that locals would not get sick off of contaminated water. That they can drink from the fountains (or other local water sources), but foreign peregrinos can't.
In other words the local water in Spain is safe.
The only thing I can say about the water is to repeat what a hospitalero told me in Vianna. Fill up from a fountain and not from a tap. The water is perfectly safe but in some cities it tastes awful due to heavier than normal chlorination. Some places in Spain go a wee bit overboard with water safety. In the few places where the water is not safe to drink it is marked as non potable.When going on holidays to Spain we have always been told to be weary of the drinking water. I must say that I have not seen or read about the condition of the drinking water. Have pilgrims had any issues, would it be good practice to bring purifying tablets? Do you drink small amounts until your system gets used to it? Any advice please.
definitely not. i would carry my own water and refill at my hostel/hotel/albergue tap where the water is tasty, treated and quality; or buy fresh at any of the dozens of supermarkets. i would avoid public drinking fountains no matter what they say, it's just not worth the gamble and after several years of austerity measures across spain...When going on holidays to Spain we have always been told to be weary of the drinking water. I must say that I have not seen or read about the condition of the drinking water. Have pilgrims had any issues, would it be good practice to bring purifying tablets? Do you drink small amounts until your system gets used to it? Any advice please.
just wondering... and i do not want to start a spanish drinking water debate, wherever in spain were you on vacation that you would have to be cautious of the drinking water??? and who would recommend that?When going on holidays to Spain we have always been told to be weary of the drinking water. I must say that I have not seen or read about the condition of the drinking water. Have pilgrims had any issues, would it be good practice to bring purifying tablets? Do you drink small amounts until your system gets used to it? Any advice please.
As an aesthetic issue, water taste is less important to me than other water quality issues. If there is a choice, treated tap water would be preferable to me to using a font of unknown provenance.The only thing I can say about the water is to repeat what a hospitalero told me in Vianna. Fill up from a fountain and not from a tap. The water is perfectly safe but in some cities it tastes awful due to heavier than normal chlorination. Some places in Spain go a wee bit overboard with water safety. In the few places where the water is not safe to drink it is marked as non potable.
Very cautious types!who would recommend that?
... or buy fresh at any of the dozens of supermarkets. i would avoid public drinking fountains no matter what they say, it's just not worth the gamble and after several years of austerity measures across spain...
i can't agree more with all of the above. and for the record, i am from spain and a spaniard.Oh, come on... I'm from the country that has very good tap water (from the Alps) and I've found Spanish tap & fuente water quite good. Maybe there was a little bit overdose of chlorine sometimes in tap water, but you can just put a magnesium tablet (very good for prevention of cramps) or similar in it and there you have it. Whereas bottled water is actually "dead water", being bottled for god knows how long, in what place (darkened???), transported over and over again. Well, for me bottled water isn't really water, it's just a liquid.
And do remember that Spain, even most rural parts of it, is "modern" country if that means "agua potable". They have very good drinkable water indeed!
One more on behalf of bottled water... We have made (national broadcaster that is) research containing 7 most popular bottled waters and 7 examples of tap water from different cities. The best bottled water was worse on all criteria than the "worst" tap water... Don't know for your part of the world, but I think you can't judge the rest by your standards always.
Ultreia!
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